Vietnam Today

General Secretary's US visit wraps up

Party leader held talks with President Obama and other US agencies and approved the Shared Vision Statement on Vietnam and US during his visit from July 5 to 10.

by Quynh Nguyen

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and a senior Vietnamese delegation have successfully concluded a visit to the US at the invitation of President Barack Obama.

The Party leader held talks with President Obama and met with US Trade Representative Mr. Michael Froman, US religious dignitaries, and US lawmakers.

He exchanged views on relations between Vietnam and the US in this new stage of development in Washington D.C., and witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents between Vietnam and the US and between Vietnam and the World Bank.

In New York, General Secretary Trong also met with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at UN headquarters, visited former US President Bill Clinton at his residence in Kittle House, and spoke with the Chairman of the Communist Party of the US, Mr. John Bachtell.

Of particular note, the two sides approved the Shared Vision Statement on Vietnam and US during the visit.

Both sides acknowledged the positive developments and substantial cooperation in various fields over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, especially the development of economic cooperation and trade, dealing with consequences of the war, as well as cooperation in science and technology, education, health, the environment, climate change response, defense and security, and human rights, and strengthening cooperation in international issues.

Both countries affirmed their continued pursuit of a deepened, sustained, and substantive relationship on the basis of respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, and each other’s political systems, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two sides are committed to maximizing shared interests and cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, for the benefit of both peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

They expressed concern over the recent issues in the East Sea and emphasized the need for promoting freedom of navigation. The two countries agreed to resolve disputes through international measures and the Convention of the United Nations Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), and recognized the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) while supporting efforts to achieve a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).